Truss



Nqv; 6, 1945.

E. HYAT'T4 TRuss Filed Feb. 10. 1943 IN VEN TOR. Hmer' 4 /47/- HTTOFNEK Patented Nov. 6, 1945 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r 2,388,360 I a I "muss; v Elmer Hyatt, Cleveland, Ohio Application February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,359

4 Claims. (01. 128 106)" j The present invention relates to trusses, and the principalobject of the invention is to provide an improved and more efficient truss appliance for the treatment of ruptures and the like.

Accordingly one of the primary objects of my invention is to provide animproved construction in which the pad elements adapt themselves au-' having an adjustable element whereby the truss may be properly adjusted and held in the correct relation to the, hips of the wearer without discomfort.

It is also sought to provide alight, sanita and-inexpensive construction, which is not only inconspicuous when worn but also afiords a maximum of comfort as Well as relief to the wearer.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the

invention will now be described in detail by ref- 'erence to the accompanying drawing illustrating an appliance which embodies all the essential eleinents of my improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be both novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a truss appliance embodying the present features of my improvements; I

Figure 2 is a similar, but enlarged detail view showing the rear pad element and the belt and spring member attached thereto; Figure 3 is a sectional View of the same;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the pressure or front pad element and adjacent connections;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show plan views of washers in different sizes for the front pressure or treating pad; and E Figure 8 is a perspective view of the overlapping portions of the spring member and angular adjusting link for connecting the adjacent end of the belt.

This application is a continuation-in-part (as to common subjectv matter) ofmy application Ser. #358,221 filed September. 25, 1940. H

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the improved construction is illustrated as comprising a one-piece bow-shaped frame I 0 approximately semicircular in extent, which may be of any suitable light resilient materialone end of which is provided with a series of threaded openings l2 for use with a hollow or tubular thumb screw l4 having a knurled head I5, as shown in Figure 1. The other end of said frame I0 is also provided with an opening I! for use in attaching a rear bracing pad member l8, as by means of a screw 20 (of slightly smaller diameter than the opening I! and secured centrally to the pad l8)as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Preferably a washer element 22 of appropriate size is fitted over the screw 20 against the outer face of the pad Is. (that is, between it and the spring member I0). Also, the pad is de sirably fitted with a removable soft washable cover 24, which may be provided with a conven tional elastic or drawstring 25 for securing purposes.

The pressure-treating or corrective pad is of a construction comprising a roll of soft material 28, which may be so rolled. as to embrace a portion of the shank or stem of a pointed nail 29, with the head 30 ofthe same remaining at the center of the roll of material, while preferably an outer sheath or covering 32 isapplied to said 7 roll, together with a washer element 34 of appropriate size fitted over the outer or pointed end portion of the nail for abutting engagement with the end of the adjusting screw l4 when the said outer portion of the nail (thus forming a stem for the pad) is inserted into the open end of said screw-as illustrated in Figure 4.

The end opening [2 of the spring member ID is fitted with a clamping screw 35 which serves to clamp one end of an adjusting'link 36 in overlapping relation to the spring bow ID, as represented in Figures 1 and 4. The engaging faces of the bow l0 and said link 36 are formed with radial ribs 38 and mating recesses 40, as shown in Figure 8, for cooperative action in maintaining the link 36 rigidlyin any set angular relation to the bow ID. The other end of the link 36 carries a screw stud 42 adapted for removable engagement with the keyhole slot 44 of a buckle element 45 to which is adjustably looped one end of a belt strip -41--the other end of which belt strip is also provided with a buckle element 45 adapted for pivotal connection with the projecting head portion of the screw 20, and in to their normal condition).

slightly loose play relation theretoas illustrated in Figure 3.

The series of threaded openings l2 also enables adjustment to be made to correspond to the location of the rupture as well as the size (if the person using the truss appliance.

In the use of the improved appliance, the bow frame member ID enables the pads to be applied to the opposite sides (front and back) of the person, in the usual truss fashion-the pad l8 being applied"toi'theback and apaii structurez28 of appropriate-size being selected"for -application to the point of rupture in front. This pad device 28 is easily and cheaply made by winding the proper length of material, through which the nail 29 is thrust at each turn, which keeps the head of the nail at the center of thefpadand a proper size of washer 34 (corresponding to the size of pad desired) is fittedo'vertheexposed end of the nail for engagement with-thefend of the screw l4 after the pointed end portion of the" nail has -beenintroduced "into the -openend of said screw. This'is 'a'll that isnecessary-to hold the paddniplace'"against anylateral or-si'de wise movement'while in use, in which position the adjustment of the screw determines at will the'pressure which is-applied to the pad for'the corrective or treating action. 'Thus the size and shape "of the pad'28 -is determinedby the" kind'and amount of "material" used as We11"-as by the'size of the'washer 34, andthismayof course be varied as i the -rupture'd condition jimproves (allowing the muscles to gradually return The-nail *29- 'mere- 1y holds the'pad28 in place, against any up anddown or 'sidewise-shifting,with the exception of suflicient playbeing allowed as to "both pads l8 and 28 to accommodatethe'contour of the body'and ordinary body movements. As seen i in -"Figure 4, there will be "but verylittle end thrust mainly transmitted throughthe-nail w, the pressure on the 'pad being transmitted through the washer. 34; :and when it is desired to remove or to change the 'pad' 28,thismay be done by a slight movement of the pad merely suificient to withdraw the .nail29 from" the bore or opening of said screw l4.

One end of the .beltll is maintained finpivotal relation to the screw .20 of the rear pad 18,

,as .shown in Figure 2, whereas the other end of the belt is .made readily detachable from the screw stud-42, as is indicated in'Figure' 1. The adjustable .link36between this end ofthebelt and the front end of the springbow .lfl' enables the truss to be 'fitted 50 as to' accommodate the slant of the hips, that is, to lidflatwiseagainst the-hips instead of crowding and gouging one edge of the frame into the flesh and thereby pro- --ducing an uncomfortableand irritating effect.

The recessesand ribs"(38 and), after adjusting the link-3.6 m the. proper'angle, insure rigidity of the connected parts in their adjusted and set relation. Y

In puttingvon the truss appliance, the pad! is applied over the exact spot where the pressure is to-be applied, and then: the adjusting screw 14 brought right-over the mail 29 for. in aline- .ment' therewith) for telescoping .over the nail, and the frame .and part then .securedin'this position by attachment of the buckle 45 to the end of the adjustable link 36. Any other minor adjustments that may become necessary can thereafter be made with the truss in wearing posi- & tion, by manipulation through a pocket or other place in the clothing for either shifting the pad or adjusting the pressure by a turning of the thumb screw l4, and without the necessity of removing any of the clothing for such purpose.

It will therefore be apparent that I have devise'd -'a =verys'slmple, :and ::inexpensive;" as well as a highlyefiicient typez'of improvedmonstrum tion suitable for fulfilling all the desired objects of my invention, as have been stated; and while -l5-I have shown and described what I have found,

"from actual experience, to embody effectively the .:several"features of said improvements, I desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to'make alfchanges or modifications which may 20 fairlyrbe adjudged to fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described'my invention, -:what I claim'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'" l. -A truss appliance comprising a' resilient bow- 5 shaped frame, I a bracing pad connected with one endof said frame, -a hollow pressure-adjusting screw threaded through the opposite-end of the frame, anda'treatment' pad comprising a body of padmaterial having a stem loosely fitting *with- 30 'inithe open end of'said adjustingscrew. "2. A truss'appliance'comprislng'a resilient bowshalped frame, a bracing pad connected with one end of said frame, a hollowpressure-adjusting screw threaded throughtheopposite endof said frame, a pressure-treatmentpad-comprising a -pad'of material havinga stem 'loosely fitting within the open end of the adjusting screw, and a washer interposed between said'screw' and pad material and in sliding "engagement "with said stem.

"3. A truss appliance comprising arres'ilient bowshaped frame, a "bracing'pa'd connected with one end of said frame, a hollow pressure adjusting screwthreaded' through the "opposite end of said frame, and a"treatment*padeomprisinga roll of ipad forming material provided with "a stem'having ahead at the "center of said'roll and an exposed shank portion projectingin slid- 0 ing telescopingrelationwithin the open-end of said screw, and a washer carried' slidingly-by said shank portion in engagement with said r011- and abutting against "the open -end of the --adjusting screw.

55 4. A truss appliance comprising continuous Jone-piece springbow frame-of 'approximately semicircular shape, a bracing pad attached'to one end of said frame, a tubular pressure adjustingelement adjustablyqnountedon the oppositeend of said frame, a treatmentpadprovided with a stem loosely fitting withimsaidttubuiar element, a rigid'linkzprovided with: a clamping screw pivotally. connecting the :link: to the -end of said frame carrying.said' adjustingselement and adapted to secure saidlinkiat various angles with relation: to the frame, and-a beltconnecting the free :endof said link withthe other end of said frame.

- ELMER1HY/ATT. 

